For over seven decades, a quiet but significant dispute simmered between Indonesia and its former colonial ruler, the Netherlands, over one critical question: When did Indonesia actually gain its independence?
While Indonesians have proudly celebrated 17 August 1945 as their Independence Day, the date when Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta declared the nation’s freedom from Dutch colonial rule, he Netherlands long refused to recognize that moment.
Instead, for decades, the Dutch government officially considered 27 December 1949 as the actual date of Indonesia’s independence.
This discrepancy was not merely a historical footnote but a reflection of deep-rooted colonial legacies and contested narratives that continue to shape international memory and post-colonial relations.
The Proclamation on 17 August 1945
On 17 August 1945, just two days after Japan's surrender in World War II, Indonesian nationalist leaders Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s independence in Jakarta.
The event came after years of nationalist movements and centuries of Dutch colonial domination, briefly interrupted by Japanese occupation during the war.
For Indonesians, this proclamation marked a moment of self-liberation, an end to colonialism and the beginning of a sovereign nation.
However, the Dutch, having lost control during the Japanese occupation, were determined to reassert their authority over the archipelago.
When they returned, they dismissed the 1945 proclamation as illegitimate, asserting that the Indonesian republic was a creation of Japanese occupation and not a genuine expression of sovereignty.
The Dutch Refusal to Recognize 1945
For the Dutch government, the 1945 declaration posed a political and legal dilemma. Recognizing it would have meant admitting that the Netherlands had lost its colony not through a negotiated process but through unilateral action by Indonesian leaders.
In response, the Dutch launched military operations, what they termed "police actions", in 1947 and 1948 to regain control. These campaigns resulted in widespread violence, international condemnation, and deepened the rift between the two nations.
Only under increasing international pressure, especially from the United Nations and the United States, did the Netherlands finally agree to transfer sovereignty.
On 27 December 1949, following the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference, the Dutch officially transferred sovereignty to the United States of Indonesia, a federal entity that was soon consolidated into the Republic of Indonesia.
From that moment on, the Netherlands held firm that 27 December 1949 was the legal date of independence.
This position allowed them to maintain the narrative that independence was granted rather than taken. It also had practical implications, such as in legal and financial matters relating to colonial responsibilities, veterans' benefits, and recognition of past atrocities.
Indonesia’s Unyielding Stance
Throughout the years, Indonesia never wavered in its assertion that independence began on 17 August 1945. The day is celebrated annually with national fervor, and it forms a central part of Indonesia’s national identity and post-colonial narrative.
For Indonesians, recognizing any other date would amount to undermining the sacrifices of the revolutionary generation and legitimizing colonial domination after the fact.
The divide over the date of independence thus symbolized deeper historical wounds and unresolved tensions.
While diplomatic relations between the two countries improved over time, this issue remained an uncomfortable reminder of colonial arrogance and the reluctance of European powers to fully confront their imperial pasts.
Change in Dutch Perspective
Only in recent years has the Dutch position shifted. In a landmark gesture in 2022, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte acknowledged that 17 August 1945 marked the de facto start of Indonesian independence.
Rutte stated that the Netherlands should have recognized Indonesian independence on that day. This marked a significant change in tone and substance, even if it was not accompanied by immediate legal revisions to earlier policies.
This admission was part of a broader reckoning in the Netherlands to deal with its colonial past and offer some closure to former colonies.
In 2022, a government-commissioned historical review found that the Dutch military had used "systematic and extreme violence" during the Indonesian War of Independence, and that successive Dutch governments had failed to fully accept responsibility.
Legacy and Reconciliation
The debate over Indonesia's independence date underscores the complexities of decolonization and historical memory. It was not just a question of dates, but of dignity, sovereignty, and justice.
For Indonesia, affirming 17 August 1945 was a declaration of agency, of a people refusing to have their story written by others. For the Netherlands, finally acknowledging that date reflects a slow, painful process of facing up to the realities of its colonial legacy.
Though it took more than 75 years, the shift in Dutch acknowledgment represents a step toward reconciliation. It suggests that while history cannot be changed, it can be reexamined with honesty and humility.
